Sarah Marshall

Sir Cliff Richard has launched a £1 million legal action over the BBC’s controversial live broadcast of the South Yorkshire Police raid on his home.

The singer’s home was searched live on television two years ago as part of an investigation into historical sexual abuse claims made against him.

The Daily Mail reports today that his lawyers have dispatched letters to both South Yorkshire Police and the BBC saying he intends to sue for ‘misuse of private information’.

The singer claims detectives and reporters ‘unlawfully colluded’ to invade his privacy during the 2014 swoop by officers investigating historic sexual abuse allegations – and is determined to have his day in court.

Sir Cliff was furious at the ‘grotesque’ intrusion and how his name was made public before he had even been interviewed.

He said: “The police have apologised but the BBC hasn’t and it owes me that.

“What it did to me was shameful. No one should have to go through what I did.

“My name was plastered everywhere before I was even questioned. When they broke into the apartment, I had no idea why. None at all. Later, they [the BBC] even boasted that the raid on my home was the news scoop of the year.

“They have a lot to answer for and that was a real invasion into my privacy. It is unforgivable.

“They raided the apartment before I knew what I was accused of or checking on my welfare. And now I’m free.

“They must be thinking I will sue them. Once I would have been reluctant. It is tempting to forget the whole thing, but people like myself are in a very privileged position to possibly change things so it doesn’t happen to anyone else."

Sir Cliff said he had been accused of one accusation of molestation at the time of the live raid, with others coming forward after the allegation was made public.

At its height, police were investigating claims from nine people against Sir Cliff - with four accounts put forward to the CPS for consideration as to whether charges should be brought.